“They would like poker removed,” Zoning Board Administrator Victor Barrett said in an interview with the Variety.
Barrett said no decision has been made yet by the board regarding the residents’ concerns.
He said the three participants were a high school teacher, a businessman and a member of Beautify CNMI.
“The Zoning Board conducted public consultation to hear from [Kagman] residents how they think zoning is working, and to hear suggestions on how it can work better,” Barrett said.
“There’s no big specific outcry,” he said.
Barrett said the residents also wanted to make sure that existing small stores will continue to operate or that small groceries will still be allowed in their village.
They said those who want to buy land for their children are hoping for a simple process that is not too costly.
Barrett said Kagman is classified as “village residential.”
The Saipan zoning law stated that the purpose of a village residential zoning district is “to promote a residential community environment that is quiet, safe, and family and pedestrian-friendly.”
“We came to Kagman village and would be coming to other villages to listen to the people’s concerns and suggestions,” Barrett said.
The Zoning Board and his office, Barrett added, will work with the Legislature to discuss possible changes to the zoning law based on the feedback from the community, businesses and other stakeholders.
